Vacuum radiator-valve.



GEORGE VAN DYKE, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

VACUUM RADIATOR-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed April 30, 1912. Serial No. 694,219.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE VAN DYKE, a citizen oi the United States, residing at New Brunswick, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Vacuum Radiator-Valve, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in valves for steam radiators and its object is to provide a means for clearing pocketed air from the radiators so that there may be established quickly a circulation of steam in the radiators.

In accordance withthe present invention, there' is provided a nipple ending in a nozzle which nipple may be tapped into the inlet pipe of the radiator and connected to the other end of the radiator by a suitable pipe in such manner that the inrushing steamv will create vacuum conditions at the nozzle to cause air lodged at the other end of the radiator to flow through the nozzle into the steam supply pipe, whereby the trapped air is 'removed and the proper circulation may be set up.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical embodiment of the invention, it is susceptible ot other practical embodiments wherefore the invention is not coniined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes do not mark any material depart-ure from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :#Figure 1 is an elevation of a radiator with the invention ap- 'pliedg Fig. 2 is a plan view ot the structure shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is aV longitudinal diametrical section with parts in elevation and drawn to a larger scale, of the valve structure. Fig. 4 is a section on .the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. v

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a radiator 1, indicated as made up of a plurality ot connected sections which may be taken as typical of any suitable radiator structure. it one end, the radiator is shown as provided with a supply pipe 2, including the usual controlling valve 3, and it may be assumed that the radiator system is of that type wherein the supply pipe constitutes the return pipe for steam and water of condensation.

It is usual to provide radiators at the end remote from the inlet with a relief valve, commonly known as an air valve. In accordance with the present invention, a small pipe 4 is connected to that end section of the radiator remote from the pipe 2, at about the place usually occupied by the air valve, and when the invention is applied to existing radiators, the pipe 4 may be connected to the radiator at the same opening designed for the air valve. Sincevthe majority of radiators are of the two or more column type, the pipe 4 is carried through the radiator sections between the columns, the continuity of the pipe being broken by bends or elbows wherever necessary.

Applied to the pipe 2, is a nipple valve structure 5, having at one end an exteriorlythreaded radial flange 6, for the application of a union coupling 7a, connecting the member 5 with the pipe 4. The body of the member 5 remote from the flange 6, is formed with a nozzle extension 7, having an intermediate portion 8 screw-threaded to engage in a suitable screw-threaded hole formed at an appropriate point through the wall ofl the steam pipe 2, between the valve 3 and the radiator. lThe body 5 is formed with an axial bore 9, communicating with another axial bore 10 of smaller diameter extending through the nozzle 7, and the extremity ot' the nozzle 7 has its outer walls tapered toward the bore, as indicated at 11. On one side of the body portion, there is formed a boss 12, into which there is tapped a passage 13, terminating in a valve seat 14, communicating by way of a smaller passage 15 with the bore 9 near that end of the latter which communicates with the bore 10. Adapted to the passage 13, is the threaded stem of a screw 16 terminating at one end in a valve 17 shaped to the seat 14 and at the other end provided with a head 18 which may be milled for convenience of manipulation. Extending from the passage 13 is another passage 19 to the exterior of the boss 12, and so located that it may be con-- trolled by the screw 16. When the invention is installed, the valve member 5 is substantially upright with the end of the nozzle shown at 11 extending for a short distance into the pipe 2 in a direction transverse to that of the flow of steam therethrough.

Let it be assumed that the valves 3 and 17 are closed, and that it is desirable to cause the introduction oi. steam into the radiator. The valve 3 is opened and steam enters the radiator through the pipe 2. 'lhe stream ofiv steam traversing the open end of the nozzle 7 tends to Withdraw air therefrom, thus setting up vacuum conditions within the bore l0 and through the latter Within the bore 5 and pipe d, and causing a tloiv ot air from the further end ol' the radiator to and through the bore 10 oli the nozzle 7. iiny air therefore, 'which may be poclreted :in vthe remotcr portion ot the radiator, is With-- drawn therefrom and the incoming steam iinds ready access to all parts or the radiator since its tioiv is not obstructed by dead bodies of air. is the radiator' gets vlilled With steam, there is condensation and the Water of condensation will in part iiov through the pipe si into the bore 9, iillin, the latter, thus preventing live steam from passing through the valve structure .5, into the pipe l and thus to the further end oi? the radiator. lflhen it is desired, the Water thus lodged in the pipe et and bore or chamber 9, may be readilyT withdrawn by manipulating the screw lo, to place the passages l5 and 19 in communication and the Water will readily gravitate to and through the pas` sage 19.

The present invention is advantageous over other devices for a like purpose in that it has no stop valves, balance valves, floats or expansion valves, and, moreover, it is entirely automatic in action.

lWhat is lclaimed is 1. A steam radiator provided with a steam inlet pipe, an air pipe leading from the end of the radiator remote from the steam pipe to said steam pipe, and a nipple device consisting of a body portion having one end connected to that end oit the air pipe adj acent the steam pipe and at the other end formed into a nozzle extension With its eX- terior provided with screw threads and there screvved into the steam pipe in transverse relation to passage ot steam therethrough, the nipple device having an unimpeded through passage from end to end and upright in operative position with the open end ot the nipple elevated above the low r inner surface oi" the steam pipe and above the bottom of the radiator.

2. A steam radiator provided vvith a steam inlet pipe, an air pipe connected at one end to that end of the radiator remote from the steam pipe, and a nipple device consisting of a body portion having a connection at one end with that end of the pipe remote from the. enclconnected to the radiator, and the other end formed into zzle extension. threaded at an intermediate point on said nozzle extension and screwed into the steam pipe and terminating Within the steam pipe at a distance ahove the bottom ot the free noeaeea il. steam radiator provided With a steam inlet pipe, an air pipe leading from that end of the body of the radiator remote from the steam pipe, and a nipple device comprising a body portion having a boss at one side and at one end provided With nozzle extension with exterior screw threads screived into the steam pipe with the discharge end of the nozzle Within said steam pipe in transverse relation to and in the path of steam entering the radiaiinr through the pipe, and the other end ot said body portion heing connected to corresponding end of the air pipe, said y portion and nozzle having alined longiiinal bores with the bore of the body porer than that oit the nozzle and the il. .fr steam radiator provided with a steam inlet pipe, a nipple device having at one end a nipple exension screwed into the steam pipe with its discharge end in transverse relation to and in the path of steam passing through the pipe, said nipple device having a boss at one side exterior to the steam pipe and with longitudinal alined bores, the boss having intersecting drain passages leading from one of the bores exterior to the steam pipe, and provided With a valve screw movable along one of the intersecting passages into and out of closing relation to said passages, and an air pipe connecting With the end of the nozzle device remote trom that entering the steam pipe and leading to the end or' the radiator remote from the steam pipe, said nipple device standing substantially upright when in operative position.

ifi steam radiator provided with a steam inlet pipe, an air pipe leading from the end oit the radiator remote from the steam pipe, and a nipple device connecting the air pipe to the steam inlet pipe and comprising a,

body portion with a bore communicating at one end with the air pipe, and near the other end provided with a valved drain passage for said bore, and a nozzle continuation of the body portion having a bore of smaller and substantially constant diameter therethrough connecting with the end of the firstnamed bore'reinote Jfrom the air pipe, said nozzle extending and opening into the interior ol' the steam inlet pipe of the radiator in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.

6. A steam radiator provided with a steam inletl pipe, a nipple device having a discharge portion entering the steam inlet pipe in a substantially upright position and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis or' the steam pipe With the outlet of the nozzle Within the line oi travel of the steam passing through the pipe into the radiator, and an air pipe leading from the upper end of the nipple device to the end of the radiator remote from the steam inlet pipe and communicating with the radiator at a high point thereof.

7. An attachment for steam radiators comprising` a nipple structure having a body portion with means at one end Jfor the attachment of a pipe thereto and at the other end provided with an extension of reduced diameter terminating in an eXteriorly tapered end and provided with exterior screw threads between the tapered end and that portion of the extension Where joining the body portion, said nipple structure having an unimpeded passage longitudinally therethrough with that part of the passage located Within the body portion of greater diameter than that portion located Within the nozzle extension, and said body part of -the structure being provided with a valved drainage passage communicating with that part of the longitudinal passage Which is of the larger diameter.

8. An attachment for steam radiators 4 comprisinofa nipple structure having a body portion with means at one end for the attachment of a pipe thereto and at the other end constructed for insertion into the steam inlet pipe of a steam radiator, said nipple structure having a free passage longitudinally therethrough With the portion Within that part of the nipple structure for insertion into the steam inlet pipe of the radiator GERGE VAN DYKE.

Witnesses:

CLIFFORD CATHCART, HARRY B. HoUsELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

